Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/371

[113gg] Rem. The subject is sometimes added to the infinitive absolute when it takes the place of the finite verb, e.g. Lv 67, Nu 1535, Dt 152, ψ175, Pr 1712, Jb 402, Ec 42, Est 91. So, probably, also in Gn 1710, Ex 1248, although here כָּל־זָכָר‎ according to §121a might also be taken as an object with a passive verb; cf. Est 313. In 1 S 2526, 33 the subject follows an infinitive absolute which is co-ordinated with an infinitive construct, see above, e.

§114. The Infinitive Construct.

[114a] 1. The infinitive construct, like the infinitive absolute, may also represent a nomen verbale (§45a), but of a much more flexible character than the infinitive absolute (cf. §113a). Its close relation with nouns properly so called is especially seen in the readiness with which the infinitive construct may be used for any case whatever; thus,

(a) As the nominative of the subject, e.g. Gn 218לֹא־טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָֽאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ‎, literally, not good is the being of man in his separation; Gn 3015, 1 S 2320, Is 713, Pr 1726, 257, 24 (but cf. 21:9 טוֹב לָשֶׁ֫בֶת‎ in the same statement); ψ329 prop. there is not a coming near unto thee, but the text is probably corrupt. With a feminine predicate, 1 S 1823, Jer 217.

[114b] (b) As genitive, e.g. Ec 34עֵת סְפוֹד וְעֵת רְקוֹד‎a time of mourning and a time of dancing; Gn 217, 297, Neh 1246, 2 Ch 2414. This equally includes, according to §101a, all those cases in which the infinitive construct depends on a preposition (see below, d) [and Driver, Tenses, § 206].

[114c] (c) As accusative of the object, e.g. 1 K 37לֹא אֵדַע צֵאת וָבֹא‎I know not the going out or the coming in (I know not how to go out and come in); Gn 216, 3128, Nu 2021, Is 114, 3728 (even with אֵת‎), Jer 615, Jb 1522 (cf. for the use of the infinitive absolute as object, §113f); as accusative with a verb expressing fullness, Is 119.

[114d] 2. The construction of the infinitive with prepositions (as in Greek, ἐν τῷ εἶναι, διὰ τὸ εἶναι, &c.) may usually be resolved in English into the finite verb with a conjunction, e.g. Nu 3519בְּפִגְעוֹ־בוֹ‎in his meeting him, i.e. if (as soon as) he meets him; Gn 2745 (עַד־שׁוּב‎); Is 3012יַ֫עַן מָֽאָסְכֶם‎because ye despise; Jer 235עַל־אָמְרֵךְ‎because thou sayest; Gn 271and his eyes were dimמֵרְאֹת‎from seeing, i.e. so that he could not see.

[114e] This use of the infinitive construct is especially frequent in connexion with בְּ‎ or כְּ‍‎ to express time-determinations (in English resolved into a temporal clause, as above the combination of the infinitive with יַ֫עַן‎ or עַל־‎ is resolved into a causal clause), especially after וַיְהִי‎ (see the